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VI residents urged to craft ‘action plan’ for natural disasters

- Director of Disaster Management Mr Jasen H. Penn says start of new year is the best time to revise or create plans
Vehicles partially submerged on Flemming Street due to flooding by Tropical Storm Philippe in October 2023. Photo: Team of Reporters
Director of the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) Mr Jasen H. Penn said free emergency plan templates are available for schools, businesses, and families at the DDM website. Photo: GIS/File
Director of the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) Mr Jasen H. Penn said free emergency plan templates are available for schools, businesses, and families at the DDM website. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Residents of the Virgin Islands are being encouraged by the Director of Disaster Management, Jasen H. Penn, to create or revise their disaster plans as the 2024 year gets started.

“Last year, the Virgin Islands experienced a number of minor earthquakes, a major flooding event, and two close passes of tropical cyclones,” Mr Penn said while adding that a new year offers opportunities to reflect on lessons learned and improve going forward.

“Having an action plan for how to deal with these and other hazards helps protect persons and property,” he said.

Mr Penn said free emergency plan templates are available for schools, businesses, and families at the DDM website.

“In the event of an emergency, having an agreed upon plan allows you to bypass panic and take speedy and effective action. Investing the time to sit with your team or your family to agree on an emergency plan can save lives,” Mr Penn said.

Plans available @ DDM website 

He said effective family emergency plans include considerations for shelter-in-place, safeguarding the home, evacuation locations and routes, critical contact information, and details for how the family will reconnect if separated.

Meanwhile, plans for businesses should also include procedures for shutting down the business and re-opening after an emergency. Once the plan is in place, persons should test their procedures to ensure they are a good fit, Mr Penn added.

3 Responses to “VI residents urged to craft ‘action plan’ for natural disasters”

  • simple solution (23/01/2024, 13:39) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Clean the doggone ghuts and drains 3 to 4 times a year
  • Vision of hope (23/01/2024, 16:37) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    National disaster is not limited only about hurricanes, earthquakes road and sea accidents. National disaster also include Aviation accident on a national scale. Where is the crafted plan or plans in the case of a major Airline were to happen at Terence B. Lettsome's Airport? The crafting of plans is your job to lead, Mr Jasen H. Penn. Were you hired and being paid Monthly to craft such plan, sir?
    It is ok for you to ask the public for assistance, but you are in charge, sir. encourage the public to upgrade their plan. Do your job.or retire, quickly. No trainee boss should be hired for the critical job. Oh, I forget, only in the BVI such normal, maybe.
  • ... (24/01/2024, 09:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is what we sorely need. Natural resources in abundance, past generations lived of the land & sea without advanced technology. We should have a plan to feed ourselves at least to maintain life in the event of a global disaster like i dont know pandemic?

    Observing politics is like observing an animal that forgets every 5 minutes and doesn't learn from its mistakes.


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